United profit beats forecasts as bolstered hub strategy pays off

CHICAGO, Jan 15 (Reuters) - United Airlines on Tuesday reported a fourth-quarter profit that beat Wall Street forecasts, as the No. 3 U.S. carrier scheduled more flights out of its hubs and won back customers after a series of public relations disasters.

The company, United Continental Holdings Inc, said adjusted earnings per share rose to $2.41 in the quarter from $1.44 a year earlier. Analysts on average had forecast $2.04 per share, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

Revenue per mile flown, a closely watched industry measurement, climbed 5 percent in the quarter, while unit costs, or costs per available seat per mile, declined 0.7 percent. (Reporting by Tracy Rucinski Editing by Bill Berkrot)